Lankan troops capture LTTE spy chief's hideout

A hideout of LTTE intelligence chief and second-in-command Pottu Amman, who is wanted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been overrun by Sri Lankan troops moving further into the fast-shrinking rebel territory in the northern war zone.

A hideout of LTTE intelligence chief and second-in-command Pottu Amman, who is wanted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been overrun by Sri Lankan troops moving further into the fast-shrinking rebel territory in the northern war zone.

Pottu Amman, the most wanted LTTE leader after rebel supremo Vellupillai Prabhakaran, was not found in the safe house in the fringes of Mullaittivu which had a ramshackled exterior with stacked sand bags and posh interiors.

Troops of the 58 Division captured the hideout during counter-terrorist operations in south of Iranapalai at the Mullaittivu battlefront yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.

"The safe house was used by both Pottu Amman and (his deputy) Kapil Amman, two of the most wanted leaders of the LTTE," the Ministry said.

Both Pottu Amman and Prabhakaran were wanted in India for the 1991 killing of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Troops also found a jeep believed to have been used by Pottu Amman himself during subsequent search operations conducted in the area. The car which a iron guard attached to it in the front, was parked near the safe house. A large amount of anti-personnel mines were also recovered in the search and clearing operations.